Tell Wyoming to do the right thing for wolves
Jamie Rappaport Calrk, Defenders of Wildlife
The killing will begin in four days unless we can stop it.
Less than a month ago, wolves in Wyoming were stripped of federal Endangered Species Act protection. We have already served notice that we are filing a lawsuit against the federal government's removal of Endangered Species Act (ESA) protections for Wyoming wolves — but by the time the matter is resolved in the courts, it will be too late for many of Wyoming's wolves, unless the State abandons its indefensible plans.
Under current Wyoming state law, wolves in 85% of the state will enter a free fire zone on 12:01 AM September 30.
The restoration of the wolf in the lower 48 is one of the greatest success stories of the Endangered Species Act. By approving a wolf management plan that is driven more by politics than science and withdrawing federal protection for these animals, the clock has been turned back on decades of conservation progress.
We have already seen what can happen if the fate of wolves is turned over to states with extreme anti-wolf plans in place. The 2011 delisting of Idaho's wolves was disastrous and deadly — more than 400 of that state's wolves were killed within the first year of delisting. Now Wyoming is poised to follow suit with an even worse wolf plan.
It's an unconscionable double standard.
No other animal has gone from protected wildlife to predatory "pest animal" status overnight — until now. Under Wyoming's plan, wolves that wander beyond the invisible border of the northwest corner of the state can be shot, gassed or trapped by anyone at any time. No license required. It's open season on wolves, plain and simple.
No other animal — not bears, not mountain lions — are subject to the double standard that permits wolves across much of the state to be shot as vermin.
Up to 60 percent of Wyoming's wolf population could be wiped out.
In just four days Wyoming's extreme wolf killing plan will go into effect, and Defenders is calling on our supporters to shine the spotlight on this shameful management plan.
Tell Governor Mead: Stop the Reckless Killing of Wolves
In less than a week, wolves wandering outside Yellowstone National Park may be shot on sight.
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Sincerely,
Jamie Rappaport Clark President Defenders of Wildlife |
P.S These are desperate times for wolves, and they call for swift, powerful action — please join us in telling Governor Mead to stop the war on wolves.
defenders@mail.defenders.org